Section 10.1 – Apothecary Volume and Weight Equivalences
Apothecary Symbols
Volume
Equivalent Units within the Apothecary System
Symbol
Volume
minim
=
60 minims
=
fluidrachm,
fluidram
=
6 fluidrams
= 1 fluidounce
fluidonce
=
16 fluidounces =
4 qt
grain
=
scruple
=
drachm,
dram
=
once
=
pound
=
1 pt
2 pt
Weight
Apothecary- 1 pound (
1 fluidram
1 qt
=
1 gallon
20 grains
=
1 scruple
3 scruples
=
1 dram
8 drams
=
1 ounce
12 ounces
=
Weight
or #
) = 12oz
Remember that 1 fluidram (
1
Household- 1 pound ( lb ) = 16 oz
) = 1 tsp = 5 mL
Ex 1: Convert the following within the apothecary system
(a) 7 pounds = _____________________ ounces (both apothecary units)
(b) 3 qt = _______________________ apothecary fluidounces
(c) 41 drams = _______________________ grains
or #
Section 10.2 – Conversions between the Apothecary and Metric Systems
Apothecary
Avoirdupois
Household
Metric
Volume
16.23 minim
1mL
1 fluidram
1 tsp
5mL
6 fluidram or 1
fluidounce
6tsp or 2 tbsp
mL
1 pt
1 pt
mL
1 qt
1 qt
mL
1 gallon
1 gallon
mL
Weight
1 grain (gr)
mg
1 oz
g
1 oz
1 fluidounce
1
g
g
(pound)
g
1 lb
1 lb
g
Notice: That 1 ounce across all systems is equal to _____________ grams!
Highlight the ______________________ to ___________________________________ conversion
Ex 2: Convert the following
(a) 120 mg = _______________________ gr
(b) 3 drams = _________________ mL = ____________________ fl oz
(c) 60mL = _____________________ fluidrams
(d) ½ gr = ___________________ mg
(e) 2 gr = ____________________ mg
(f) 8 oz (apothecary) = ____________________ g
(g) 5 oz = __________________ g
(h) 13 g = ___________________ gr
(i) 195 mg = _____________________ gr
(j) 98 mg = _____________________ gr
(k) 183 g = ____________________ oz
Ex 3: Calculate the following
(a) You are to give a patient 100mL of penicillin VK that is 4gr/tsp. How many grams
will be given?
(b) An order requests 600mg and the medication is available as 8gr/tsp. How many
milliliters will be needed?
(c) A preparation is available as 500mg/tsp. The pharmacist asks you to measure out
46.296 gr. How many milliliters should you measure out?
(d) You are to make a gallon of cough preparation that will have 1 gr of active ingredient
per teaspoonful. How many grams of active ingredient will you need?
(e) A medication order is for 10 gr total. How many 325mg tablets should you dispense?